really in life, as rumor said, it was hard to act as if he were
forgotten by his friends."

"And what was Sir Edward's reply?"

"First, that he doubted the rumor altogether; secondly, that if he did
return to the king, his loss might be more than made up; and thirdly,
that it was more than probable that, young as he was, if he really did
live, the arts of his father would prevail, and he would purchase his
freedom by homage and fidelity to England."

"Ha! said he so--and the king?"

"Did not then think with him, nay, declared he would stake his right
hand that the boy, young as he was, had too much of his mother's noble
spirit for such a deed. It was well the stake was not accepted, for, by
St. Andrew, as the tale now goes, King Robert would have lost."

"As the tale now goes, thou unbelieving skeptic," replied one of his
comrades, laughing; "has not the gallant been seen, recognized--is he
not known as one of King Edward's minions, and lords it bravely? But
hark! there are chargers pricking over the plain. Hurrah! Sir Edward and
Lord James," and on came a large body of troopers and infantry even as
he spoke.

Up started Sir Amiot's men in eager readiness to greet and join; their
armor and weapons they had laid aside were resumed, and ere their
comrades reached them all were in readiness. Sir Amiot, attended by his
esquires and a page, galloped forward, and the two knights, perceiving
his advance, spurred on before their men, and hasty and cordial
greetings were exchanged. We should perhaps note that Sir Amiot's manner
slightly differed in his salutation of the two knights. To Lord Edward
Bruce he was eager, frank, cordial, as that knight himself; to the
other, whom one glance proclaimed as the renowned James Lord Douglas,
there was an appearance of pride or reserve, and it seemed an effort to
speak with him at all. Douglas perhaps did not perceive this, or was
accustomed to it, for it seemed to affect him little; and Lord Edward's
bluff address prevented all manifestation of difference between his
colleagues, even if there existed any.

"Ready to mount and ride; why that's well," he cried. "We are beyond our
time, but it is little reck, we need but spur the faster, which our men
seem all inclined to do. What news? why, none since we parted, save that
his grace has resolved on the siege of Perth without further delay."

"Nay, but that is news, so please you," replied Sir Amiot. "When I
parted from his grace, t